Meet Our People

John Kotovsky serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Lutheran Senior Services, a role he assumed in September 2007. With a blend of business acumen and pastoral ministry, he is uniquely qualified to build on the organization’s 150-year legacy of mission and lead it into the future with stability and strength.

Before joining Lutheran Senior Services, John was President and Chief Operating Officer for the real estate development and management company Koch Development Co, Inc. Previous to that he served as Chief Financial Officer of The Sansone Group, Inc. and Senior Accountant for Arthur Andersen & Co. Also a Lutheran pastor, John served as Pastor of Administration and Christian Education for Community Church of Joy in Phoenix and Chief Financial Officer of the Joy Company. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, John also holds a Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Over the years, he has also shared his heart for servant leadership through various professional and ministry boards.

Linda Detring joined LSS as the Chief Operating Officer in 1999. Among the management and administrative positions she has held in St. Louis areas hospitals, Linda served as the vice president for nursing for the Deaconess Health System and as the Chief Operating Officer of Compton Heights Hospital in the Tenet Health System. During her hospital tenure, Linda worked with a wide range of hospital services and was an instructor in nursing at Lutheran Medical Center School of Nursing. At LSS, Linda is responsible for operations of the continuing care retirement communities with a special emphasis on creating person-centered environments of care in LSS’ care centers. She holds a master of science degree in nursing from St. Louis University. Linda is also a licensed nursing home administrator in Missouri. A retired captain in the United States Naval Reserves, Linda was deployed to Bahrain during Desert Storm as part of her 20 years of service.

Paul Ogier is the co-founder of Provident Group, which became LSS’ subsidiary in June 2001. He served LSS as Vice President of Development and Other Services until he was named Chief Financial Officer in 2006. His professional career began in 1981 as a consultant with Laventhol & Horwath, a national accounting firm. Paul has a B.S. Degree in Finance from Missouri State University and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He has a vast knowledge of development, operations, and financing, with a special emphasis on project financing. Paul has been a leader in the senior housing industry for over 20 years.

Mark Schoedel was appointed Vice President of Construction and Technology in June of 2006. Prior to that, he served as Administrator of Construction and Technology for all LSS entities, after serving as Facilities Manager for Lutheran Health Care Association, an LSS predecessor. He is a former Director of Operations for Grace Church – St. Louis in Maryland Heights, Missouri, and worked as an engineer at Monsanto Company from 1976 to 1985. Mark received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri – Rolla. He is a registered professional engineer in the State of Missouri and a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Mark also served on the Advisory Council for the Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center for 20 years.

Dale joined LSS in February 2008 as Vice President for Human Resources. Prior to joining LSS he was the President of Human Capital Partners, a human resources consulting firm, and prior to consulting he was the Chief Human Resources officer for St. Anthony’s Medical Center. Dale has over 30 years of professional experience as a consultant and healthcare human resources practitioner. He holds a masters degree from Washington University, St. Louis, where he is currently an adjunct faculty member, and is accredited as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).